Journalist Mozammel Babu shown arrested in extortion case

Mozammel Babu, managing director and editor-in-chief of Ekattor TV, was shown arrested today in an extortion case filed by a shareholder of Boishakhi TV with Banani Police Station in January this year.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ziadur Rahman passed the order after investigation officer Md Rajiul Amin, a sub-inspector of Banani Police Station, produced him at the court with an application in this regard, court sources said.

Babu was brought to the court around 11:40am. He was wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest.

On January 11, Chowdhury Md Humayun Kabir, a shareholder of Boishakhi Media Ltd, filed a case with Banani Police Station against Babu and two others for their alleged involvement in extortion.

According to the prosecution, it was alleged that during the military-backed caretaker government in 2007, a group led by Babu demanded Tk 10 crore in extortion at the Boishakhi TV office. They took Tk 450,000 in cash, the allegation said.

Mozammel Babu was detained in Mymensingh while trying to cross the border into India on September 16 last year. Since then, he has been in jail.